First Drive: [FUGLY] 2003 Honda Element

[ElFenix]

holy crap $22K for a crv!?! does that thing even have as much passenger volume as a civic? no wonder its so profitable, you get a civic wagon but instead of calling it a wagon its an "SUV" and they raise it a little bit and charge you another $6K. jebus!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
holy crap $22K for a crv!?! does that thing even have as much passenger volume as a civic? no wonder its so profitable, you get a civic wagon but instead of calling it a wagon its an "SUV" and they raise it a little bit and charge you another $6K. jebus!

The CRV has tons more passenger room (not to mention cargo room) due to its high roof line and low load floor. It also has more rear leg room, head room, and shoulder room. And $22,000 is for a loaded CRV. A loaded Civic (non-hybrid) will cost you $18,520

 

[Jzero]

The Element can only seat 4
The Element weighs more
The Element gets worse gas mileage
The Element is not as well equipped
The Element has less cargo room
The Element's rear side windows are blocked when the rear seats are folded (must fold up against windows)

You're outside the target market...the features you like in the CR-V and the things you don't like about this make that pretty obvious. I'm about the opposite. I hate SUVs and everything they stand for, but this is one that I actually like. A lot. I'm not looking for a passenger car (not like the 4 + a skinny dude that the CR-V can hold is that much better), and if I'm carrying cargo, with the seats folded, it would be long enough to hold my kayaks, which is my biggest concern. The gas mileage is probably a result of the weight and the fact that it is square and probably cuts through the air like a parachute.

Some people are looking for a stylish mini-van, some are looking for a stylish station wagon. I happen to fall into the latter group.
Like I said before....as a 20-something outdoorsy type, I fall right over for this kind of thing. Up until the Element, the only SUVs I even "sorta" liked were the the XTerra and the Defender. At least I'm consistent

 

[PlatinumGold]

Huh? I don't recall ragging on the Avalanche (though it is certainly possible). The Avalanche, on paper, actually appeals to me as a concept - the problem, as it often is with GM vehicles, is the execution. The Avalanche didn't HAVE to be cartoonishly overstated and covered with ribbed gray plastic, and it might have appealed to me if it were toned down a bit. I know that Bob Lutz has laid down a mandate for less plastic cladding on GM cars, and I believe the Avalanche is now or shortly will be available sans cladding, clearly a good thing.

well, i don't see the avalance as being cartoonish at all. I like the grey cladding. it's perfect for getting all muddy and stuff. w/ this years model, it's available w/o the cladding.

for me, it's not the cladding, basically, the element takes the EXtarra and makes and ugly plastic clad version of it. BUT, there's really nothing interesting about it as far as concept. it's not like the avalanche which as a million and one uses.